About three days later, I sat in a booth at the Lady Bug drinking coffee when Meghan breezed in.  She smiled when she saw me and came over.

 “Are you waiting for Paul?”  She sat down across from me.

“No, I was just enjoying the atmosphere.”

“I am so glad you moved here.  I know it’s only been a few weeks, but I’ve got to tell you this Ember, I have some great plans for your work.  I’ve arranged for you to have a show in my gallery in the city beginning April 2.  I know you have a lot of interesting pieces already and I know you can come up with several more in time.”

“Great.  I have a few ideas on the drawing board.”

“Now, on a more personal note, Paul came to see me last night.  The poor boy is completely confused.”

I choked on my coffee.  She knew about us?

“I thought you were fond of my brother.”

“Brother?  Paul’s your brother?”  My eyes widened.

“I was sure the red hair was a dead giveaway.  Oh my goodness.”  she gasped “You thought he was my boyfriend.”  She laughed.  “No, he’s my baby brother.  He’s a great guy who deserves to be happy.  I think you do to.”

After coffee, I walked over to the Glassworks.  Paul sat at his workbench drawing a new design.  The door was opened, but I knocked anyway.  He looked up and smiled.

“I owe you an apology for the other night.  My ex-husband just dumped me for his mistress.  I didn’t know that Meghan was your sister.  I thought you were playing around on her.  I’m sorry.  If your offer is still open I would love to go out with you.”

He grinned broadly.  “I couldn’t imagine what I had done to make you so angry with me.  Let’s look in the paper and see what’s playing.”

This was the best possible outcome.  I got to keep Meghan as a friend and mentor, and the door was wide open to explore a relationship with Paul.  Life just kept getting better and better.

The positive response to my work that I received from Meghan gave me the confidence to explore new designs and colors.  I still kept my signature three red dots, but now they were joined by a rainbow of other hues.

One evening, as I brushed my teeth, I noticed my face in the mirror and I could see the change.  The lines around my mouth had softened, a sparkle that I had not seen in a long time had returned to my eyes.  I looked and felt younger.  Emy had indeed become Ember and I liked being Ember.